Wake Co. commissioners reject transit tax referendum
“Knock, knock,” he said. “Who's there? Lettuce. Lettuce who? Let us vote on the transit referendum this November please.”
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Hmmm
So the people can be trusted to vote on marriage but not on whether or not they want to add a new tax? More of the same. Reminds me of how the Dem-led Legislature refused for years to allow the people to vote on how they want to fund (be taxed on) local projects like schools, roads, etc.. Now the NY Times is reporting, in a story about North Dakota's vote on eliminating the property tax there, that NC Republicans are kicking around that concept here. Yes, it would be great to rely even MORE on our corrupt and broken Legislature in Raleigh for everything we need. Dem or Rep, Raleigh knows best and money rules.
From Capital Area Friends of Transit
"Commissioner Erv Portman led the call for transit and for letting the voters have a voice. Portman offered a resolution to hold a required public hearing on the Wake transit plan, have County work sessions on it, and allow a vote on putting the half-cent sales tax referendum on the November ballot."
"Erv Portman noted that years of studies and panels have all called for a regional transit system, that past chairs have declared the priority for transit, but that this County Commission has refused to act.
"Commissioners Betty Lou Ward and James West spoke strongly in favor of Portman’s resolution and voted for it. Commissioners Paul Coble, Joe Bryan, Tony Gurley, and Phil Matthews all voted against it. In fact, they did not even discuss it, again shutting out the public from having an opportunity to vote on transit.
email message from Wake Commissioner Erv Portman re transit
Erv Portman (ervin.portman@wakegov.com)
7:37 PM
email to me:
> Thanks for your email and support that we address this issue.
These guys have been saying one thing and doing another for too long.
Yesterday they ignored without so much as one word of explanation, AARP, wake up, our counties elected mayors, and even the league of women voters and several chambers of commerce.
I don't know why they are so afraid of letting the voters decide this, but I do know this county needs new leadership.
I have confidence the voters of this county want to see it protected as we grow, and they will fix this in 2014.
Erv
WestStar Precision Inc.
1130 Classic Road Apex, NC 27502
Phone 919.557.2820 Fax 919.557.8383
www.WestStarPrecision.com
------------------------------------------------
Portman's reply to email thanking the following for their support of allowing a vote by the voting public on Wake's transit plan and a sales tax to pay for it:
from: Martha Brock mbrockn49@gmail.com
to: ervin.portman@wakegov.com,
james.west@wakegov.com, James West
bward@wakegov.com, Betty Lou Ward
mayor@wakeforestnc.gov,
harold.weinbrecht@townofcary.org,
russellkillen@parkerpoe.com,
rwilliams@garnernc.gov,
dick.sears@hollyspringsnc.us,
jholcombe@townofmorrisville.org,
frank.eagles@rolesville.nc.gov,
keith.weatherly@apexnc.org,
jbyrne@fuquay-varina.org,
nancy.mcfarlane@raleighnc.gov, Nancy McFarlane, Mayor, Raleigh
date: Tue, Jun 19, 2012 at 5:22 PM
subjec5; Transit vote by Wake Commissioners.
Martha Brock
Letter about transit to the editor of the N&O today, and my LTE
Re: letter to the editor of the N&O from Margaret Newbold: ”On transit, let’s vote”
GURLEY FOR LT. GOV. deserves a NO vote from GOP voters
Ms. Newbold’s letter was of the "kinder-gentler" style. While I agree with her premise, I propose an all-out-attack at the polls on the four Republicans who refuse to allow a vote on a referendum, even though polls show voters favor transit upgrades in Wake County. I suppose the four members of the Wake County Commission who voted “No” to a proposal to put transit on the 2012 ballot expect that voters will have forgotten their folly by 2014.
However, Commission Chair Coble in particular has always opposed transit planning and development. He asked for a promotion to a seat in Congress. Let’s send him a loud and clear message that we won’t be denied a vote on issues of this importance.
It has been said that Commissioner Tony Gurley supports whatever issue or position is popular at the moment. If that is the case, then Tony flubbed this one. He should receive a “No ” vote himself from GOP voters, when they vote for Lt. Governor. He should not get a promotion, either, unless he trusts the voters to decide on issues like transit in the Triangle.
Martha Brock
Transit
It is good to hear that the voters are upset with the no vote of the CC, however the question is will they remember? The GOP majority continue to maintain that majority because we the Dems have allowed them to remain in power. When will we turn out and vote? We had a great opportunity in 2010 to maintain control of the CC board, but one must ask the question, who did we vote for? As one of the candidates that was on the ballot we should not have lost control of the board and if you didn't support your party as some Dems didn't you should not complain.
Commissioner Joe Bryan can be added to the list of do-nothings
You are quite right, Don. That is why I posted so strongly on this issue. It is time folks hear and hear again why they need to oust the 4 GOP members of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. We cannot allow the voters to forget in the Fall of 2012 or 2014.
Of the four votes on the transit issue last week, I was most disappointed in Joe Bryan's, as he served as CAMPO Chair and oversaw the development of the transit plan. Then he reversed himself and voted against the plan developed by Triangle and Wake County Staff.
What the hell is he thinking? It seems to me that Paul Coble calls the shots and all the others fall into line--that is, the GOP line.
Martha Brock